Mott the Hoople Announce Rare Reunion

Ian Hunter is getting the band back together, as Mott the Hoople prepare to headline a huge U.K. festival. He'll be joined by guitarist Ariel Bender and keyboardist Morgan Fisher, who were '70s-era members of the group.

"Both toured extensively with Mott and both were featured heavily of The Hoople album after Mick Ralphs and Verden Allen left the band," Hunter said in a news release. "I know many people were disappointed when neither appeared on the 2009 and 2013 get-togethers. Hope this makes up for it!"

Fisher was with the group from 1973-80, while Bender initially replaced Mick Ralphs. Ongoing health issues are keeping Mott's co-founding guitarist off the road, but Ralphs reportedly has given this reunion his blessing. Mott the Hoople's current lineup also includes drummer Steve Holley, a former member of Wings who has been touring with Hunter's solo band recently.

This kind of reunion is rare for Mott the Hoople, who didn't perform together at all between 1980 and 2009. Hunter was joined then by the entire original Mott lineup. Bassist Pete Overend Watts and drummer Dale "Buffin" Griffin have since died. Martin Chambers of the Pretenders took over on drums for Mott's next reunion in 2013.

"You know, you tour too much and it gets boring," Hunter told the Boston Globe this week. "That's why I never wanted to do it all the time. It's not a clever idea to do it the way I do it, and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else – but it's the way I like to do it."